Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program.

Existing law authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to authorize the establishment of community college district baccalaureate degree programs, as provided. Existing law requires a community college district to continue to offer an associate degree program in the same academic subject for which a baccalaureate degree program has been approved, unless that community college district has received approval from the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to eliminate the associate degree program. When conducting a review to approve the elimination of an associate degree program, existing law requires the chancellor to evaluate changes to the labor market viability of the associate degree and changes to the minimum education required to maintain program accreditation. This bill would require the chancellor to additionally evaluate whether baccalaureate degree holders are paid more than associate degree holders in the same field when conducting a review to approve the elimination of an associate degree program.